Bayern finally win in Madrid, Mbappe gives hope to Real

Looking at the current form (won nine of 10 Champions League games so far this season, scoring 32 and conceding 10), Bayern Munich was a favorite against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu, which is not something we see very often. After all, Real are Champions League record holders and they are never to be taken lightly, even thou they lost to Mallorca in La Liga ahead of this duel. Real have also won last 9 games against Bayern in Madrid, but tonight, that streak came to an end – Real – Bayern 1-2.

The biggest reasons for this result are Manuel Neuer and the mistakes made by the hosts. A serious number of misses by Vinicius and Mbappe surely influenced the result but on the other side, the 40-years old Bayern keeper saved everything which could be saved. In the end, if the game finished 2-2 it would still be a fair result, considering that Real played much better after they conceded two goals and the rematch in Munich on Wednesday 15th is very much on.

There was not mocking about in the first half – Bayern really squizzed Real in the first 15 minutes and created a sitter which will Upamecano remember for the rest of his life. In the ninth minute, Kimmich cross found Kane, who headed a cross into the box for Upamecano. With the goal at his mercy, he faied to sweep the ball home and Carreras manages to clear the ball from the line. Only after 15th minute did Real started to play and had opportunities from Vinicius (two) and Mbappe (two), but in all those cases Manuel Neuer looked at his best and saved all those shots. Another mega-chance came in the 26th minute when Thiago gave the ball to Gnabry in his own penalty area. The German international made an instinctive shot, but the ball hit Lunin and went into a corner. Luis Diaz didn’t have a particular good game but he used his chance in the 40th minute. Real lost the ball in midfield and then Kane and Gnabry combined, before Gnabry slipped the ball to Díaz who had made a brilliant incisive run. The Colombian got to the ball first, before rolling it past Lunin.

Nearly 20 seconds into the first half, Bayern doubled their lead. Pavlović stole the ball from Carreras and gave it to Olise, who cut inside before laying it off to Kane. England’s captain took a shot from almost 20 meters and the ball went in for 2-0. Only then Real Madrid started to play and press Bayern’s defense. Upamecano made a terrible mistake in the 61st minute and Vinicius was one on one with Neuer but somehow managed to miss the entire goal. The 40-year old keeper made another great save in the 65th minute when he stopped Mbappe from scoring the goal. But finally, Real saved some hope for the return leg in Munich with a goal from Mbappe. A low cross to the back post found the Frenchman whose finish looked to have been pushed onto the bar by Neuer initially, but the ball bounced down over the goal line and it was 2-1. There were chances on both sides after Mbappe's goal and even Olise's penalty cry at the end, but the result stayed the same and we will have a thrilling rematch in seven days.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - QUARTER FINALS

First leg

Tuesday

Real Madrid - Bayern Munich 1-2 (0-1)

/Mbappe 74 - Diaz 41, Kane 45/

Sporting Lisbon - Arsenal 0-1 (0-0)

/Kai Havertz 90+1/

Wednesday

22.00: (1.55) Barcelona (5.00) Atl.Madrid (5.10)

22.00: (1.75) PSG (4.20) Liverpool (4.30)

***odds are subject to change***